Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-17

| little chamber, the only ornaments L pos
sessed white rose for my hair and my
mothers old fashioned wedding ring for my
finger!n
And with her mothers memory came bacl
a tenderness, a softness to the heart Of
Mabel Holbeck which had not visited it fol
years.
1T is not too late to retrieve myself, AM
will" she added, resolutely. Il cannot re
call the past, but I can at least prove to my
| husband that / am not dead to ell sense oil
| honor or shame"
Mabel descended to the breakfast room q
! different person. The elements of true wo
| manhood had SO long slumbered in her breast
that only the rudest shock could have aroused
them With their awakening came the con
viction of her unworthiness and determine.
ton to regain the esteem she had lost.
| Col Holbeck was not present at the table
and to the servant who waited upon him he
said, Excuse me to your mistress, and
bring me a cup Of coffee wish nothing
| else
! II VIII carry it to him myself, said Mabel,
when she received the message; and few
| moments later she entered the library where
| he was sitting. "Can l not assist you?" she
said, softly, as she deposited the unique silver
breakfast service at his side.
He had not noticed her presence before.
He glanced hastily into her face and the
tears stood in his eyes
~ do not know whether you can or not, -
he replied, almost wildly. MY brain is in
whirl These papersn-pointing to the
heaps upon his other hand-''represent all
l possessed l have been here all night, Ma
Ill Oft -,
vestigation, is that We are almost beggarsl'
''You must rest now, at any rate she
said, gently; land when you have drank
your coffee we viii talk our misfortune
OVER
While he partook of his breakfast she
busted herself in arranging the disordered
apartment She turned off the gas, which
still burned brilliantly, and throwing aside
the heavy curtains admitted the sunlight
into the room.
Not until then did she observe the change
that had taken place in her husbands ap-
pearance. He was worn and haggard, and
his whole frame trembled as with an ague.
Mable sat down near him, and leaning her
arms upon the table, looked into his face.
you are too easily discouraged!'' she ex-
claimed with emotion.
II comprehend our situation much more
fully than you do" he replied, gloomily.
'Of the business details I am, OF course,
ignorant" she answered; ''but they do not
alter ROT affect the fact which so intimately
concerns u.s.
''You realize it all, then, and yet your heart
is not broken" he gasped, rather than asked.
you refer to a Conversation that passed
between us years agoW she inquired, the red
flush mantling her cheek and the tears gath
ering il her eyes.
Eyes; you told me that You would not care
to live if bereft OF society and wealth That
remembrance has been the bitUerest drop in
this bitter, bitter cup"
Forget i'll" she exclaimed, passionately
''Forget that I was ever so unwomarly; so
ungrstefuh Our married life SO far has
proven failure, but there is time enough to
redeem it,"
Col. Holbeck could scarcely believe that he
heard Alright
''You are not jesting with me, Mabel"
"Indeed, indeed am mott" sho exclaimed,
earnestly. Although I have proved recreant
to the trust you once reposed in me, I am
worthier today to be your wife, than l was
upon our bridal morning. If you VIII only
esteem me again as you once did you shall
never have cause to regret it,"
Col. Holbeck gathered her to his heart
and pressed his lips to her forehead
There were but a few thousands left OF all
the coloneIs vast estates, but that was
enough to enable them to live in ease and re-
tirement, and Mabel was only too pleased TO
show by her future conduct that after all
she was not so heartless and selfish as she had
pretended, or even imagined.
A LUCKY speculation On the Stock Exchange
one day made the colonel richer than ever;
but Mabel insisted On their still remaining in
the country and devoting her leisure hours
TO doing good to the poorer community
about her. To the INDECENT she was known
as The Angel Of Charity and her husband
often and often declared she was indeed ''The
Old Mans Darling New York Journal.